The location of Banksy‘s latest masterpiece has finally been revealed after internet sleuths finally worked out its whereabout.
Yesterday, the ‘graffiti guerilla’ posted an image of a lighthouse stencilled on a beige wall to his 13.2million followers on Instagram.
The artwork included the words ‘I want you to be what you saw in me’ and in a second photo two people could be seen walking with their dogs past it.
He gave little away in regard to the location this time, prompting speculation over where it actually is in the world.
However, it has now emerged that it is in Marseille, France – a city with an entrenched history of street art.
London art dealer MyArtBroker said the mural is on Rue Félix Freiger and that it was first seen in the area more than a week ago.
The company posted on its website: ‘Beyond the purely visual, the location of this work seems to be no coincidence either.
‘As France’s oldest and most diverse port city, Marseille has long been a gateway for migrants and a hub for cultural exchange.
‘Its neighbourhoods, such as Le Panier and Belle de Mai, are rich in street art and have histories rooted in working-class struggles and immigrant communities.’
This is the latest Banksy work of art, which he shared on his Instagram on Thursday afternoon
The street artist has not disclosed the location of his latest piece, but a wider shot shows a little more
Yesterday’s announcement was the first time Banksy has posted on Instagram since December 16, when he revealed another piece depicting a Madonna and child with a fixture in the wall that resembled a bullet wound in her chest.
Banksy, who began his iconic street art more than 25 years ago, has sold his works for hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Banksy’s identity has been shrouded in secrecy until The Mail on Sunday launched an investigation in 2008, naming Robin Gunningham as the Bristol artist. His identity nevertheless remains unconfirmed.
He is also known for his headline-making stunts, such as leaving an inflatable doll dressed as a Guantanamo prisoner in Disneyland, California, and hanging a version of the Mona Lisa – but with a smiley face – in the Louvre, Paris.
Last August, Banksy unveiled nine animal-themed artworks in as many days.
His final piece depicted a gorilla lifting the shutters of London Zoo to release a sea lion and birds, while other animals appear to look out from the inside.
It came after stencils of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros were drawn across the capital.
Banksy’s Flying Balloon Girl is one of his most recognisable artworks
A new Banksy mural appeared on a wall in Hornsey Road, Finsbury Park last March
Banksy unveiled nine animal-themed works of art last summer. This was the last one outside London Zoo
In a bitter blow to his lifelong bid for anonymity, Banksy could soon lose the right to his own name as he faces a bitter legal challenge to take his trademark away from him.
The millionaire graffiti artist, whose team could be made to go public in court, is being forced to defend his trademark of the word Banksy to sell images and merchandise.
The case is being brought by Full Colour Black, a greeting card company that sells recreations of Banksy’s work.
The company owned by Andrew Gallagher has claimed the faceless artist has not used the Banksy trademark and that it should be cancelled for ‘non-use’.
Moreover, one of Banksy’s team will be required to give evidence at a tribunal in the spring to fight against the claims, a source has claimed.
This would be the first time someone would be forced to speak on Banksy’s behalf in public.
The source told The Sun that Banksy, who previously said that ‘copyright was for losers’, could even be in court but ‘we won’t know who he is’.
